The Super Quasi Live Blog, First Quarter: Giants-Patriots

Jason Taylor wins the Payton award, proving that the year wasn't a total loss. Or maybe they gave it to him so that he wouldn't kill himself.

Bill Walsh is dead, so his spawn get to flip the coin with some Niner greats. Not pictured; Joe Montana, who wants nothing to do with these people.

Mike Carey, aka The Black Ref, flips it, and the Giants win the toss and will take the ball. The roof is closed tonight, like there was any chance that the swells in attendance were going to be exposed to weather.

Hixon to the 23, and it looked to me like he was face masked down. First no-call for the Pats! IT'S A CONSPIRACY!

Manning looks shaky on pre-snap, so he gives to Jacobs, who runs through backfield contact for 3. He gets a yard on second, and it's 3rd and 6 for Eli for a very quiet crowd. so far, this is the most boring SB ever... but Manning gets time on 3rd thanks to Bradshaw picking up the blitzer, and it's Burress for the first. He throws again on the next down to Hedgecock the FB, who can't escape Seau. 2nd and 7 is a lot of pre-snap, and Jacobs gets a yard as the Giants snap it at 0. They've held the ball a while so far, but it's 3rd and 6 again. Manning with a good ball into tight coverage to Smith for the first, and again, the Patriots blitz does not get close. Our first stoppage is for two injured Pats - Gay and Harrison, who both walked off. Jacobs hurts a DB for 7 to the left, and this is looking just like the Giants blueprint so far. Bradshaw nearly gets the first on 2nd and 3, and we're already six minutes into the game. On 3rd and inches, they should sneak, but give to Bradshaw instead, who carries Ty Warren for five yards. Impressive. The tenth play of the drive is play action to Boss, who drops it, not that he'd have gotten much. We're in the outer ranges of Lawrence Tynes, not that they are thinking about that. Harrison blitzes, Jacobs runs away from it for 3 -- interesting that the Pats are sending blitzers so much, this early, and not getting there. 3rd and 7 is another big down for Eli, and he avoids pressure to convert another one. Wow. Smith again, for the first, and Big Blue is in the red zone.

Randall Gay may not return for the Patriots. Ellis Hobbs almost makes the pick on a post to Burress; Eli threw into double coverage and missed, and got lucky not to be picked. A bad looking shotgun draw to Jacobs, who gets nothing. The fourth third down of the drive will be 3rd and 10, and the Patriot defense looks gassed... but Manning goes short on third down, and it's figgie time. Tynes from 32 is good, and it's a nine-minute drive to a 3-point lead. Giants 3, Patriots 0.

Maroney makes the first play of what will win him the MVP today, with a 43-yard kickoff return. First play from scrimmage is trickery that almost gets Brady sacked; not a big sign of confidence. Maroney for eight eliminates the mistake, and he gets five more on third to convert. Brady misses badly on a first and ten; not sure what he wanted there, but it wasn't good. Second and ten is an empty backfield short one to Stallworth, more of a Welker route, for 7. 3rd and 3 is at least a three-point play, and it's Welker for the conversion. Evans for two, and Fox is now talking up the Brady ankle issue. If you have the Patriots and the over right now, it's not good times.

Faulk for 7, and that throws is easy; the spot is generous for the first. IT'S A CONSPIRACY! Brady misses Watson high on a bad decision, and it's interesting to see that Moss hasn't been involved on the drive. Faulk alligators a 2nd down pass, and it looked like Moss was open deep; pressure didn't get there. Big third down here to see if the Patriots take the lead... and Watson gets the PI call from a face-guarding Antonio Pierce. IT'S A CONSPIRACY... to make the right call. Maroney doesn't get in on first, ruining my pick of him for MVP. The quarter ends with the Giants up 3, but the Patriots knocking on the door.